Homebrew shifter mods?

[jcp123]

One of the quirks on this Honda is the shifter - prime on my list of things to improve are what I think are weak centering springs, installing Energy Suspension shifter bushings, and relocating the knob to sit about an inch higher and an inch further back, and putting on a ball-type shift knob since that has the most natural hand feel for me. The Honda forum guys aren't helping that much.

I've found various short throw shifters, shifter extenders, etc., but nothing great. I think one of this forum's greatest strengths is the community of creative DIY folks. Any ideas about how to approach this from a DIY perspective?

[Stubby79]

Not a honda (obviously), but this pic give you an idea of what some manufacturers do to move the shifter closer or what have you to the driver. And how people modify them. You could modify yours to be more like the OE one on the left.

[jcp123]

Yeah, that's more or less what I'm going for. I just don't know where to get started on actually doing it...

[oldtamiyaphile]

That's the wrong way of doing it. The correct way is to change the fulcrum point, leaving the knob in the standard location.

As quality aftermarket unit should leave the shifter knob location as per OEM. There's not much point in a short shifter if you have to reach further to get to it.

In fact, the one I have on my Fiat (name escapes me), had the option of extending the shifter rod to bring it closer to the steering wheel.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile

That's the wrong way of doing it. The correct way is to change the fulcrum point, leaving the knob in the standard location.

As quality aftermarket unit should leave the shifter knob location as per OEM. There's not much point in a short shifter if you have to reach further to get to it.

In fact, the one I have on my Fiat (name escapes me), had the option of extending the shifter rod to bring it closer to the steering wheel.

My priorities are the other way around. I want the knob location to change. Whether the shifts are shorter or not isn't the relevant piece, and in fact I'm probably more comfortable with longer throws anyway. But either way, I don't want to have to reach for the shifts or shifter, it just doesn't naturally come to hand for me.

The reason I mentioned short shifters is that's basically what's out there to buy, and one (can't remember the name offhand) brought the knob up about a foot near the steering wheel and was popular with racers, but that's way more than I was looking for.

[Fingie]

i've thought of this gear stick extension too. Would ease shifting when i drive on trails